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The renowned publisher has welcomed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to direct the development team at their internal studio, which is currently working on the anticipated third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Leadership Change Follows Poor Response

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at the development studio following the dismissal of former leader Michael Condrey, who was removed from his post due to the game's underwhelming unveiling last fall.

Recently, 2K president David Ismailer updated employees about this decision through an internal memo, which highlighted that playtesting had indicated the need for a clearer direction.

Ismailer noted that the developers is now refining Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to address community desires.

Trend of Strategic Recruitment

The news mirrors a comparable step taken by the publisher in August, when they recruited an industry veteran from the Diablo team to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.

Here is the full message from the president's announcement:

Team—

I understand you all just wrapped up your town hall - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and talented creators we have had the pleasure to collaborate with - and we’re eager for that partnership to continue.”

Through your commitment and versatility, particularly over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It confirmed the potential of a action-packed game but indicated we still had refinements needed. It revealed the necessity for a sharper vision.

It has been motivating to see how far you’ve progressed. You took the feedback to consideration and reimagined the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s ready to achieve its promise to our players.

The trust in Project ETHOS grows every day. To advance the incredible progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the latest Director of 31st Union. Following a period of talks, he starts with us on Monday, October 20.

His leadership and background in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having devoted the last 15 years developing and overseeing some of the most popular franchises in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and lately, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in greeting him in the coming days. We are all excited to continue observing the progress of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.

The President

Background of the New Leader

Brinkman currently holds the role of executive producer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. He earlier was employed at major gaming companies in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty series, and, before that, had assignments at other industry leaders.

Game Details and Vision

The upcoming game was unveiled in October 2024 in conjunction with a community playtest. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the game as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting step forward on the genre."

"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Customize your character in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the game's pitch explains. "Challenge the competition with unique powers, challenges, and obstacles that evolve every session. Do you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or go big, risk it all, and trust your team can earn top ranking? The choice is yours."

The game lacks an official release date or consoles, but fans can look forward to further news as development continues.